Whether you agree with him or not, Dan Cathy has every right as a citizen of a free America to express his opinion and operate his business on every day except Sunday if he chooses. At least he is courageous enough to stand up for what he believes and own it, rather than hiding behind cartoons and claiming he is not promoting one view or another, such as Clay Bennett does daily. So whether you want to support Chick-fil-a or not, exercise your right to free speech, but do it in a way that is honest and courageous and stand by what you say.
Mr. Jones states "We have the most prominent names in Religious Civil Liberties on our side." I don't believe those names compare to the name which is above all names, that of Jesus, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. For a season there are those who may be able to silence it, but the Bible says that one day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that He is Lord.
As a parent with students at Signal Mountain I offer no excuse for the actions of staff members. They are good people who made a terrible error in judgment and it is only appropriate that there be some form of punishment. I also believe underage drinking is an issue that needs attention, but I would stop short of saying that Signal Mountain has a larger problem in that area than any other high school. It seems any negative event st Signal Mountain finds its way into this paper and usually on the front page, but there are many wonderful things that never get publicized. For example, the community of Signal Mountain and many members at Signal Mtn. Presbyterian Church have come together through a learning center funded by the Mountain Education Foundation and volunteer tutors from the church to assist No Child Left Behind students with an after school tutoring program. They paid for transportation so those students who were struggling academically could stay after school for free tutoring and still have a free ride home. The fine young man who was the center of all the football controversy over his eligibility was assisted all year so that despite his learning difficulties he was able to pass all tests necessary and complete all credits necessary to graduate from Signal Mountain and be able to accept the scholarship he earned to a junior college in California. Signal students this year were offered over 9 million dollars in scholarships due to their academic performance and besides athletics they have one of the fastest growing and best bands in the county, a fine theatre department and other great programs too numerous to name. Dr. Tom McCullough is a fine man who has had to deal with difficult situations in a very public manner. There are issues at Signal to be sure as there are in every public school in this county. I would be interested to see what would happen if every other school had all their issues turned into front page stories. I am grateful for Dr. McCullough's leadership and still proud to be part of the SMMHS family.
I am expected to submit to drug testing at my place of employment in order to be hired and keep my job. The taxes paid by my employer and by me on my earnings are directly supporting welfare recipients, so why should they not be expected to do the same?
Once again, Clay Bennett has nothing more important to editorialize than a high school football team. Seriously? If one student's eligibility issue makes all Signal Mountain football players "illegals", does the presence of Clay Bennett make everyone on the TFP staff an idiot?
The Hamilton County Dept. of Education does not appear to be interested in hiring more quality, experienced teachers. I know someone who moved here from another state with 30 years experience and a master's degree and could not even get past the rude people at the central office to get her application released to principals for any of the available jobs. HCDE staff were so unprofessional that this person ultimately wanted no part of HCDE and decided to take less money for a private school or something in a different field.
Once again the actions of a small group of thugs will cause the loss of freedom for the majority of good kids who might be in the park, especially during the spring and summer when it is daylight well past 6pm. The law abiding citizens will follow the rules and the trouble makers won't care - so they win.
Well this editorial explains why the Times Free Press has sunk so low. What started as an inappropriate cartoon bashing children has now degenerated into a juvenile article which labels Signal Mountain residents as having "a sense of entitlement and arrogance — to the point of not only looking down on the rest of us literally, but now figuratively." You were not content to slander the character of 60 young men, so you have now insulted an entire community. I hope in the coming weeks you will find that perhaps you needed the subscriptions and advertising from Signal Mountain residents.
This editorial cartoon is inappropriate. High school students make mistakes and it is our place as parents and educators to correct them and help them learn. In this case, that has been done. Surely you are not foolish enough to suggest that Signal Mountain High School is the only school that has ever had such an occurence. The incident involved a handfull of players out of 60. It is unfair to characterize the team this way. Has anyone on the TFP staff ever made a mistake and had a cartoon published singling them out?
One day all these folks are going to get the separation from God that they so desire, for eternity. It is called Hell. May God have mercy on this country.
Intolerance
Whether you agree with him or not, Dan Cathy has every right as a citizen of a free America to express his opinion and operate his business on every day except Sunday if he chooses. At least he is courageous enough to stand up for what he believes and own it, rather than hiding behind cartoons and claiming he is not promoting one view or another, such as Clay Bennett does daily. So whether you want to support Chick-fil-a or not, exercise your right to free speech, but do it in a way that is honest and courageous and stand by what you say.
Hamilton County Commission prays; residents object
Mr. Jones states "We have the most prominent names in Religious Civil Liberties on our side." I don't believe those names compare to the name which is above all names, that of Jesus, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. For a season there are those who may be able to silence it, but the Bible says that one day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that He is Lord.
Booze and consequences
As a parent with students at Signal Mountain I offer no excuse for the actions of staff members. They are good people who made a terrible error in judgment and it is only appropriate that there be some form of punishment. I also believe underage drinking is an issue that needs attention, but I would stop short of saying that Signal Mountain has a larger problem in that area than any other high school. It seems any negative event st Signal Mountain finds its way into this paper and usually on the front page, but there are many wonderful things that never get publicized. For example, the community of Signal Mountain and many members at Signal Mtn. Presbyterian Church have come together through a learning center funded by the Mountain Education Foundation and volunteer tutors from the church to assist No Child Left Behind students with an after school tutoring program. They paid for transportation so those students who were struggling academically could stay after school for free tutoring and still have a free ride home. The fine young man who was the center of all the football controversy over his eligibility was assisted all year so that despite his learning difficulties he was able to pass all tests necessary and complete all credits necessary to graduate from Signal Mountain and be able to accept the scholarship he earned to a junior college in California. Signal students this year were offered over 9 million dollars in scholarships due to their academic performance and besides athletics they have one of the fastest growing and best bands in the county, a fine theatre department and other great programs too numerous to name. Dr. Tom McCullough is a fine man who has had to deal with difficult situations in a very public manner. There are issues at Signal to be sure as there are in every public school in this county. I would be interested to see what would happen if every other school had all their issues turned into front page stories. I am grateful for Dr. McCullough's leadership and still proud to be part of the SMMHS family.
The Drug Test
I am expected to submit to drug testing at my place of employment in order to be hired and keep my job. The taxes paid by my employer and by me on my earnings are directly supporting welfare recipients, so why should they not be expected to do the same?
TSSAA Ruling
Once again, Clay Bennett has nothing more important to editorialize than a high school football team. Seriously? If one student's eligibility issue makes all Signal Mountain football players "illegals", does the presence of Clay Bennett make everyone on the TFP staff an idiot?
Hamilton County public schools lag for minority students
The Hamilton County Dept. of Education does not appear to be interested in hiring more quality, experienced teachers. I know someone who moved here from another state with 30 years experience and a master's degree and could not even get past the rude people at the central office to get her application released to principals for any of the available jobs. HCDE staff were so unprofessional that this person ultimately wanted no part of HCDE and decided to take less money for a private school or something in a different field.
Chattanooga: Council bans minors from Coolidge Park at set times
Once again the actions of a small group of thugs will cause the loss of freedom for the majority of good kids who might be in the park, especially during the spring and summer when it is daylight well past 6pm. The law abiding citizens will follow the rules and the trouble makers won't care - so they win.
Foster: Bennett cartoon hit the mark
Well this editorial explains why the Times Free Press has sunk so low. What started as an inappropriate cartoon bashing children has now degenerated into a juvenile article which labels Signal Mountain residents as having "a sense of entitlement and arrogance — to the point of not only looking down on the rest of us literally, but now figuratively." You were not content to slander the character of 60 young men, so you have now insulted an entire community. I hope in the coming weeks you will find that perhaps you needed the subscriptions and advertising from Signal Mountain residents.
The State Champs
This editorial cartoon is inappropriate. High school students make mistakes and it is our place as parents and educators to correct them and help them learn. In this case, that has been done. Surely you are not foolish enough to suggest that Signal Mountain High School is the only school that has ever had such an occurence. The incident involved a handfull of players out of 60. It is unfair to characterize the team this way. Has anyone on the TFP staff ever made a mistake and had a cartoon published singling them out?
National group demands end to prayers at Soddy-Daisy High
One day all these folks are going to get the separation from God that they so desire, for eternity. It is called Hell. May God have mercy on this country.